10 PAPEKSj ETC. 



From a veiy interesting list of some of the immediate 

 successors of Prior Garner, contained in one of the 

 Cottonian MSS., speclally intended, as it would appear, to 

 illustrate the history of Buckland, we learn that the first 

 Prioress was named Fina. This lady, who died about the 

 year 1240, governed the House for the long space of sixty 

 years, and outlived from the date of her appointment seven 

 successive Heads of the Order* She was greatly revered, 

 and, as we shall notice subsequently, was specially remem- 

 bered in the prayers of tlre Sisterhood for a considerable 

 period after her decease. 



The maintenance of these religious women was provided 

 for by a series of benefactors. First on the list is Matilda 

 Countess of Cläre, wife of William Earl of Cläre, and 

 mother of Richard Earl of Cläre, who gave to the Hospital 

 the advowson of the Church of S. Peter of Kerebrooke, and 

 the Prcceptory of that name. She gave also to the Sisters 

 of Buckland a pension of 13s. 4d., to be paid by the Pre- 

 ceptor for the time being, and many other benefactions. 

 The gift is recorded to have been made at Westminster, 

 in the fifth year of King Richard I, 1193, in the time 

 of Alan, Prior of England and subsequently Bishop of 

 Bangor.f That of Kerebrooke, however, at least, must be 

 placed at an carlier date, as we have already seen that the 

 Order was in possession of it in the year 1180. 



Gilbert de Veer, Prior of the Hospital of S. John of 

 Jerusalem, gave the Sisters an annual pension of one 

 hundred Shillings, issuing from the nianor of Reynham4 

 He died 13th August, 1198 (?). 



* MS. Cott. Nero, E. vi. f. 457b. Appendix, No. V. 

 t MS. iu Coli. Arm. L. 17. fol. 148 b. Appendix, No. VI. 

 : MS. Colt. Nero. E. IV. f. 467b. Appendix, No. VII. 



